Michael Romance

Species: Syrian

Gender: Male

Est. DOB: Jan/Feb 2025

Likes: Digging, Climbing & Trying new food

Dislikes: Being grabbed, Loud kissy noises & Being flipped over

Requirements:

Cage: Min. 90x50x50cm - As per HSS guidelines

Wheel: Min. 21cm - As per HSS guidelines. 

  • PLEASE NOTE: He tends to pee on his wheel, so I recommend wiping it down once a week.

Bedding: 

I use a mixture of the following bedding, however you only need one (1) kind of any of the stated paper based beddings. I personally enjoy mixing textures as I have access to various types via donations. 

  • Oxbow Pure Comfort 

    • NOTE: it is important to manually crumble the compressed bedding when it is taken from the packaging while the hamster is NOT in the enclosure as this can create dust. Once this is done though, it will be fine for the hamster.

  • Teabag Bedding from FatPouches

  • Jonsanty Hamster Bedding

  • Witte Molen sand (or any other HSS approved sand.)

    • Sand bath size should be at least 14cm in diameter or length. 

OPTIONAL: 

  • Timothy hay or Aspen shavings to provide texture and structure for tunnelling mixed into the paper bedding, or to place inside hideouts as extra texture.

    • Currently using Niteangel and Kaytee, but Oxbow is also ok.

      • ALTERNATIVE: Can also use the Marukan brand of Aspen shavings.

        • Optional: Shredded tissue paper for a pop of colour! I have had good experience with IKEA brand coloured paper napkins.

    • I also have placed some Niteangel brand dry moss layered with other hamster safe wood and grassy/hay substrates in a few hideouts for texture. Shout out to all the kind donors out there!

Food: 

Currently using a mixture of FatPouches Standard Hamster Seed Mix and Bunny Dream Expert Syrian Hamster. 

  • I encourage you to also get a foraging mix from FatPouches such as the Foraging Seed Mix or Delight Mix! This can be sprinkled and lightly mixed into the bedding every few days. 

  • Alternative foraging choices can simply be another brand of HSS approved seed mix such as Rodipet brand to provide diversity in “healthy” feed/foraging.

  • He’s also quite into the FatPouches Ultimate Mix (Syrians) as an extra fun time mix.

  • I've also provided him with sprays like flax and oat. He’s not a big fan of millet. :(

Enrichment:

  • At least 3 hideouts 

    • Can be one large nesting area/chamber hideout and 2 smaller ceramic or cardboard hideouts.

      • A main nesting area can be made by connecting 2 hideouts with one tunnel (EG: plain tunnel with middle hole, or T shaped tunnel - DIY them with cardboard toilet tubes!)

  • It is recommended he has enough bedding to properly dig around in. Please refer to the HSS website for further advice.

    • OPTIONAL: Non perishable treats and food hidden in bedding.

  • OPTIONAL: A dig jar or box partially filled with coco peat and mixed with non-perishable (as in not too oily to attract ants) and dry treats and seeds, as well as some short stalks of sprays. 

    • The FÖRVAR jar from IKEA is a good choice for this kind of enrichment activity!

    • RAJTAN from IKEA is another alternative. 

    • As long as the jar or container is slightly tilted or easy for him to get in and out of it should be fine. 

  • He enjoys exploring and going up and down, so I super recommend getting him some kind of platform or climbing structure such as a hideout he can get on top of, or even a birch tube like the kind Rodipet have.

    • https://www.polypet.com.sg/collections/rodipet/products/rodipet-natural-birch-tube-goldi 

      • Be careful that anything you get isn’t TOO high as hamster have bad eyesight and poor depth perception.

    • Just make sure he’s kept well entertained! Once he gets to know you better, you might even be able to take him out for free roam time! You’ll be able to tell if he’s enjoying it when he doesn’t seem frantic, and he’s not lying flat and close to the ground with his ears down. 

Fosterer’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep.space.ham9/ 

Profile: 

Curious and shy, Michael Romance resembles a walking, coppery feather duster, who is always observing his surroundings. But considering his ‘origin’ story, it’s no wonder he’s always watching out for whatever lurks around corners.. Rescued from being dumped in a box, he was left with no food or water for an undetermined amount of time, with only his dearly departed cage mate. When he arrived to his fosterer, he weighed just under 80 grams. Far too light for a long boy like him! 

Thankfully, in the following 4 weeks, he gained almost double his body weight! He’s now a lovely healthy 120 grams and full of energy, and gaining an interest in the world around him that ISN’T backed by fear. Since he’s quite a fluffy boy, regular maintenance of his fur is required to prevent bedding getting tangled in his fur and matting. And like most male hamsters, he’s a bit of a stinky boy. Semi regular wiping down of his wheel is required, as is monitoring of his favourite hideys as he is likely to pee in them. 

With a little TLC, Michael Romance will surely blossom from a "This Is How I Disappear" to a "Give 'Em Hell, Kid" in no time!!